conzertino

I am looking for a very early Wheatstone English-system open pallet concertina for my collection. These instruments didn't have wooden or metal-ends with fretwork, but the levers and pads ( usually pearl ) were visible. Does anybody own one or know of one? I have been lucky here before, so why not try

There is an interesting concertina at ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-C-Wheatstone-antique-concertina-w-case-superb-condition-/181124434780?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2bdb8b5c It seems to be some kind of a duet-system but held like a ES...

At last weeks evening-concert at the German-Concertina-Meeting Rainer Süßmilch played this wonderful version of one of my all time greats Enjoy...

That is an interesting one. Would a 20 key anglo be a diatonic instrument, a 45 key anglo however a chromatic one? The same happened with the bandoneon. It developed out of the definitely diatonic konzertina by adding more and more notes. Both have all notes available on push and pull, but are more or less based on two diatonic rows of two keys. I think Jim explained it well! In Europe ( Germany, France, Spain etc. ) we commonly use the term diatonic for bi-sonoric, especially for these borderline-instruments.

Ok, here we go;-) It is a bad recording on a not so good instrument ( a late Wheatstone ). It is harder to play in the tenor-range, because the reeds speak slower. I only recorded this video to show the instrument to an American customer, who consequently bought the box. I play quite a bit of tango, but I dowbt very much that an English concertina can reach up to a good bandoneon ( of which I had a few ). And I do a better job on one of my own Aeolas;-) The special features of the bandoneon are the double-reeds tuned in octave and the muted left-hand side - and of cource it is diatonic. With a bit of luck I will put up some new stuff in the nearer future...

Don't forget that quite a few concertina-addicts ( like myself ) are not satisfied with one professional concertina, but have to stuff their cup-boards with good instruments. That keeps up the demand and the prices. I'm sure that there are more good ES-concertinas in this world than players! The main problem of the English concertina in my opinion is that the typical players, who started to play during the concertina-revival in the 70th and 80th, are getting old now ( what was the age-average at your last concertina-meeting? ). There are few eager young ES players around. I wouldn't be surprised if the ES prices would start to come down in the future, when all those sons or daughters sell off their late dad's collections... The same happend to the stamp-collectors or the player-piano scene. I have a lovely pedal-electric Duo Art piano with 300 rare reprocucing rolls, which I couldn't sell now at the actual cost of 35 years ago! The situation is different with the anglo, where lots of youngsters are made to play them for Irish music ( or wish to do so ;-). I don't go along with Geoff's opinoion about accordions, though. I play a 55 year old ( piano ) Jazz-Sonola and a 65 year old grey C#/D Soprani. I haven't seen or played anything as good these oldies.

Went for 2.600 plus approx 20%. Times can't be that hard! It started at 1.800, so I didn't even get a chance to bid

I had heard about this instrument before. To me the seller makes a serious impression, he answered at once, seems to be knowledgable about concertinas and gave me his phone-number....

Have a look at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheatstone-English-concertina-Aeola-/111024160648?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d98e3f88 . I have three BTs, one ME 64 key down to F like this one, one slightly smaller EE 64 key down to G ( with F instead of G# ) and a quite small rare 52 key TE... The smaller ones are more fun, but even rarer....

For those who haven't noticed yet: there is a fine big Wheatstone Aeola for sale on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheatstone-English-concertina-Aeola-/111024160648?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d98e3f88 I contacted the seller. It is in fact a baritone-treble, down to F, 9" across, the number is 28617. I'm only looking for a bass-baritone Aeola, so I will let this one pass Any offers?

I bought a late 56-key extended treble Aeola a few years ago meaning to convert it to midi - I have most of the bits ready ( using I2C bus ). But somehow I never got around to doing the job... Does anyone know of anyone, who could do a professional job converting this concertina to midi? Alternatively I would be interested to buy a good midi ES instrument!

The fact that there is no bid as yet doesn't mean that it will go cheap. All "professional" bidders only bid in the last seconds. I would be surprised if it goes for less than 3.000 pound - and there is a risk regrading condition and state of the reeds... However there seems to be in dip in concertina prices right now. The major dealers have a surplus of desireable instruments for sale - still at high prices, though.

Still going!

There are a couple of nice EE 55- note MacCanns on ebay.co.uk right now. May be you can add a few buttons here or there ;-)

I have contacted with ebay a few times - without success. This particular auction looks ok - now "buy at once" offer, no "contact me before bidding", no Western Union... I also contacted paypal with respect to this auction. They confimred that in the case of fraud I would receive my money back from paypal!? Interesting, how this will work out!?

This one is 8" ( 20,5cm ) across and weighs 1875g. My other 48 key Model 20 baritone has the same size, but weighs 1950g ( 8 fold bellows! ) I had expected it to be lighter...

The good old days! I found my first Jeffries in another junk-shop in Edinburgh for 20 pounds.... On the other hand, 180 pound was a lot of money then for a student! I remember how I lost the offer of a lot of four great concertinas to a dealer, because I couldn't raise 900 pound ( in 1978 ): 1 Wheatstone oboe concertina, 1 Wheatstone clarinet concertina, an Edeophone plus an Aeola piccolo.... That particular piccolo finally came to me more than 30 years later! A friend told me the story, how he found a lovely Gibson mandolin NAILED to the wall in a junk-shop... DISGUST!!

I noticed! It wouldn't be the first time that the ledger is wrong. The adjacent numbers 29294 and 29295 are model 20A 56-key black baritone Aeolas...

The number is 29291, 1922!

Point taken. But I want to buy a particular expensive box. So I just put another rare baby up for sale. If neither of them sells, I will keep them - and save up

Times are hard.... I may have to part with another long time companion: In 1978 I bought this Wheatstone Aeola baritone in a junk-shop in the grassmarket in Edinburgh. Good original condition, concert-pitch, good original box, 56 key ( the range is one octave below an extended treble ), seven fold air-tight bellows, in well maintained playing order and occasionally played. Serial number is 29291 - best period! There are a few minor cracks in the ends and two broken reeds were replaced at some stage by Steve Dickinson. The closest offer to 4.000 pound will be honoured She is currently located in Germany. I will be in GB soon and could deliver or the potential buyer could check her out at the German-Concertina-Meeting in March at my place ( concertinas.de ). Well packed and insured delivery by courier is no problem either.

Ok, how about 3.300 pound? Or I will keep her for another 30 years

And here is a little youtube of the bass in action! It has in fact 8-fold bellows, as one can see!

Here is a little video showing the Jones in action ( I'm not an anglo-player! )

By the way - this one is still going. How about 600 pound? It is quite a nice little box ;-)